Click the link below for an article on Chuck and Sherri Heck's annual Light display
http://www.wrbiradio.com/templates/localnewstemp.asp?id=3946&storyno=4
2010 RPRU Show Books
Hi Chapter 7,
FYI on the status of a re-order on the subject show books. Please let Randy or I know if you have any questions. Tom
Hello everyone - this is a follow-up to an e-mail that I originally sent July 12, 2011 in regards to getting additional copies of the 2010 show book (LaPorte, IN). If you remember, I stated that Chapter 33 sold all of the 750 copies they had printed and we were trying to see if there was an interest in having a minimum of 100 additional copies printed.
Amazing Maize!
Indiana Chapter #7 member, Ralph Baumheckel, has been a volunteer consultant to the Indiana State Museum Corn Project since it was first proposed. The Corn Project has evolved into the major exhibit, "Amazing Maize". The Exhibition Opening Reception was held on Thursday evening September 22nd and Ralph’s role in the project was recognized by his being included in the ribbon cutting ceremony.
Case IH was a major, presenting sponsor. They parked a Magnum 235 tractor in front of the building and positioned a Farmall H in front of the 3rd floor exhibit. The H has steps for kids (young and old) to climb on board this great old tractor.
One feature of this exhibit is the subject of detasseling. Ralph gave a pair of detasseling stilts to the museum that he used when he owned and managed Trusler Hybrids at Connersville, IN; they are on display. Ralph appears in a short video in that area describing the evolution of detasseling hybrid seed corn from walking on foot, to walking on stilt walkers, to riding on personal carriers, to machine detasseling. He narrates images on the screen that illustrate each system. Ralph wore his Indiana IH Collector Chapter #7 cap while recording the video! Once an IH guy always an IH guy.
Plan on visiting “Amazing Maize”. The Science, History and
Culture of Corn showcases the 10,000 year global genetic journey of corn. You will learn the relationship between people and corn, from its origins in Mesoamerica to its hundreds of uses today. Corn is arguably the most productive, domesticated plant and the greatest plant breeding achievement of all time. Take your kids and grand children, they will love it.
Oh yes, be sure to visit the start of the 2nd floor exhibit and the IH Farmall BN you have heard so much about.
A note from Ralph and Priscilla Baumheckel:
"Priscilla and I were asked to be a part for the opening of the Indiana State Museum Exhibit: "AMAZING MAIZE". I was a volunteer consultant for the project since the beginning and played a role in securing Case IH sponsorship. The Farmall H is at the entrance to the exhibit. We are pleased to share this attachment with our friends. ~ Ralph and Priscilla"
_____________________________________________
INDIANAPOLIS FOUNDRY
By Roger Krentscher
When the engine plant built its last engine on July 31, 2009, the foundry that serviced it so well continued to run.
The construction of the foundry began on August 16, 1937, the same day as the engine plant. The foundry building was completed in early summer of 1939, with actual production beginning on July 23, 1939, when the first cupola was tapped.
The land on which the foundry was built was a race track used to exercise horses. On Sundays the track was open to the public, and for a fee of ten cents, people from the city could ride their bicycles around the track.
By the mid 80’s, the foundry had manufacturing space of 400,000 square feet, which covered 40 acres. It had a capacity of 900 melt tons a day.
In 1991 the foundry changed its name from Indianapolis Foundry to Indianapolis Casting Corporation. It became a subsidiary of Navistar. The foundry produced ductile iron and gray iron products for Navistar and outside consumers.
In July of 2009, the foundry was slated to close with the engine plant. But the foundry was kept open to make products for outside customers for awhile and then eventually shut down.
But Navistar was not done with the foundry. The foundry was absorbed by the Navistar subsidiary Pure Power Technologies in 2010.
Pure Power Technologies was formed in 2009. Based in Columbia, South Carolina, its research and development center is also located there. t also has a research center in Bowling Green, Kentucky, a manufacturing plant located near Blythewood, Wisconsin and Indianapolis. Pure Power makes fuel systems, emission controls and metal castings.
So on April 20, 2011, after remodeling work on the foundry done, Navistar started recalling workers back. So, the old plant still somewhat lives on to this day, built on an old horse track from the thirties.
Content © 2012 International Harvester Collectors Indiana Chapter 7. All rights reserved. Revised 01/28/12
